How to prepare fish for the oven video - How to cook

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Preparing a whole fish

How to prepare a whole fish for the oven.

Trim the fins using scissors.
Scale the fish using a fish scaler or the back of a knife, working from the tail, towards the head.
Cut at an angle into the back of the head on both sides, and then one cut on the underside. Snap the head away, removing any innards that come with it.
Gut the fish by running the tip of the knife through from the vent to the head, then discard anymore innards. Break the membrane holding the bloodline with the tip of a knife, then use a brush or kitchen paper to clean it out. Rise under a gentle running cold tap.

Fish should smell pleasantly of the sea - if it smells fishy, it's not fresh.
The eyes should be bright and shining - dull eyes mean the fish is not fresh.
If you pull the gills open, the insides should be bright pink-red - a dark bluey-purple colour means the fish isn't fresh.
More about our fish expert, CJ Jackson.